Systems and methods for simulated rumble strips using fully actuating vehicle seat

Abstract

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to generating a response of a vehicle to a virtual rumble strip. In one embodiment, a method includes determine that a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity of a vehicle has been crossed as the vehicle travels based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle. The method further includes determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the virtual boundary is crossed based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle. The method also includes activate an actuator of a seat of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment and a type of a virtual rumble strip.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computing system for generating a response of a vehicle to a virtual rumble strip, the computing system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory communicably coupled to the processor that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that the vehicle has crossed a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity to the vehicle based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the vehicle crosses the virtual boundary based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 prior to determine that the vehicle has crossed the virtual boundary, determine the real-world location corresponding to the virtual boundary based upon third sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 establish the virtual boundary based upon the real-world location; and 
 activate an actuator of a seat of an operator of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, an orientation of the vehicle with respect to the virtual boundary, and a type of the virtual rumble strip, wherein an active damping system of the vehicle prevents a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the virtual rumble strip is one or more of:
 a centerline rumble strip; 
 a shoulder rumble strip; 
 a transverse rumble strip; 
 a raised pavement marker; or 
 Botts' dotts. 
 
     
     
       3. The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 prior to activate the actuator of the seat, select the type of the virtual rumble strip based upon the third sensor data. 
 
     
     
       4. A computing system for generating a response of a vehicle to a virtual rumble strip, the computing system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory communicably coupled to the processor that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that the vehicle has crossed a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity to the vehicle based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the vehicle crosses the virtual boundary based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; and 
 activate an actuator of a seat of an operator of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, an orientation of the vehicle with respect to the virtual boundary, and a type of the virtual rumble strip, wherein an active damping system of the vehicle prevents a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
 
     
     
       5. A computing system for generating a response of a vehicle to a virtual rumble strip, the computing system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory communicably coupled to the processor that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that the vehicle has crossed a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity to the vehicle based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to determine that the vehicle has crossed the virtual boundary comprises instructions to:
 ascertain a location of the vehicle based upon data from at least one of a vehicle sensor of the vehicle or an environment sensor of the vehicle; and 
 determine that the location of the vehicle overlaps at least in part with the real-world location corresponding to the virtual boundary; 
 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the vehicle crosses the virtual boundary based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; and 
 activate an actuator of a seat of an operator of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, an orientation of the vehicle with respect to the virtual boundary, and a type of the virtual rumble strip, wherein an active damping system of the vehicle prevents a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
 
     
     
       6. A computing system for generating a response of a vehicle to a virtual rumble strip, the computing system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory communicably coupled to the processor that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that the vehicle has crossed a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity to the vehicle based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the vehicle crosses the virtual boundary based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; and 
 activate an actuator of a seat of an operator of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, an orientation of the vehicle with respect to the virtual boundary, and a type of the virtual rumble strip, and wherein at least one of a frequency or an amplitude of the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment and the type of the virtual rumble strip, wherein an active damping system of the vehicle prevents a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein the information about the environment of the vehicle comprises at least one of:
 weather conditions around the vehicle; 
 a time of day during which the vehicle is traveling; 
 a day of the year during which the vehicle is traveling; 
 a type of road on which the vehicle is traveling; 
 a composition of the road on which the vehicle is traveling; 
 an angle of the road on which the vehicle is traveling; 
 an incline or a decline of the road on which the vehicle is traveling; 
 a classification of an object in the environment; 
 a classification of the environment; 
 a number of tires of the vehicle making contact with a real-world area enclosed by the virtual boundary; or 
 a surface area of a tire of the vehicle making contact with the real-world area. 
 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating a response of a vehicle to a virtual rumble strip and including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that an object has crossed a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity of the vehicle as the vehicle travels based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the object crosses the virtual boundary based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 activate an actuator of a seat of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment of the vehicle and a type of the virtual rumble strip, wherein an active damping system of the vehicle prevents a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback; and 
 determine that a physical rumble strip is absent from the real-world location corresponding to the virtual boundary, wherein the actuator is activated when the physical rumble strip is absent. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the object comprises:
 a second vehicle; 
 a pedestrian; 
 debris; 
 a road sign; or 
 a road marking. 
 
     
     
       10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating a response of a vehicle to a virtual rumble strip and including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that an object has crossed a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity of the vehicle as the vehicle travels based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the object crosses the virtual boundary based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; and 
 activate an actuator of a seat of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment of the vehicle and a type of the virtual rumble strip, wherein the virtual boundary encloses a virtual area corresponding to a real-world area in proximity of the vehicle, wherein the haptic feedback is delivered to the seat when at least one tire of the vehicle is located within the real-world area, and wherein an active damping system of the vehicle prevents a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating a response of a vehicle to a virtual rumble strip and including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that an object has crossed a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity of the vehicle as the vehicle travels based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the object crosses the virtual boundary based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; and activate an actuator of a seat of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment of the vehicle and a type of the virtual rumble strip, wherein the virtual boundary is dynamically determined by the vehicle at different timesteps as the vehicle travels, wherein an active damping system of the vehicle prevents a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
     
     
       12. A method, comprising:
 determine that a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity of a vehicle has been crossed as the vehicle travels based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the virtual boundary is crossed based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 activate an actuator of a seat of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment and a type of a virtual rumble strip, wherein the haptic feedback causes the seat to vibrate at a frequency and an amplitude that the seat vibrates at when at least one tire of the vehicle makes contact with a physical rumble strip of a same type as the virtual rumble strip; and 
 prevent a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 activate a speaker within the vehicle such that audio feedback is delivered within the vehicle by the speaker, wherein the audio feedback is based upon the information about the environment of the vehicle and the type of the virtual rumble strip. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the virtual boundary is crossed by one of:
 the vehicle; or 
 an object in proximity of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 determine that a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity of a vehicle has been crossed as the vehicle travels based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the virtual boundary is crossed based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 activate an actuator of a seat of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment and a type of a virtual rumble strip; 
 prior to determine that the virtual boundary corresponding to the real-world location in proximity of the vehicle has been crossed, determine a location of a road marking in proximity of the vehicle based upon third sensor data; 
 define a virtual area based upon the third sensor data, wherein the virtual area corresponds to a real-world area that encloses the road marking; 
 establish the virtual boundary to enclose the virtual area; and 
 prevent a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
     
     
       16. A method, comprising:
 determine that a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity of a vehicle has been crossed as the vehicle travels based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the virtual boundary is crossed based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 activate an actuator of a seat of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment and a type of a virtual rumble strip; 
 prior to determine that the virtual boundary corresponding to the real-world location in proximity of the vehicle has been crossed, determine a location of a road marking in proximity of the vehicle based upon third sensor data; 
 define a virtual area based upon the third sensor data, wherein the virtual area corresponds to a real-world area that is adjacent to the road marking; 
 establish the virtual boundary to enclose the virtual area; and 
 prevent a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback. 
 
     
     
       17. A method, comprising:
 determine that a virtual boundary corresponding to a real-world location in proximity of a vehicle has been crossed as the vehicle travels based upon first sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 determine information about an environment of the vehicle as the virtual boundary is crossed based upon second sensor data generated by the vehicle; 
 activate an actuator of a seat of the vehicle such that haptic feedback is delivered to the seat, wherein the haptic feedback is based upon the information about the environment and a type of a virtual rumble strip, wherein delivering the haptic feedback to the seat comprises vibrating the seat at a first frequency and a first amplitude when the vehicle travels at a first speed, wherein delivering the haptic feedback to the seat comprises vibrating the seat at a second frequency and a second amplitude when the vehicle travels at a second speed that is different than the first speed; and 
 prevent a passenger seat of the vehicle from undergoing the haptic feedback.